Northeast is in a
maternity crisis

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

This year will be the first since Mother’s Day came to be with a presidential proclamation in 1914 that there is no chance for a Mother’s Day baby to be born in a Northeast Philadelphia hospital.
Since Jeanes Hospital in Fox Chase phased out maternity services last May 31 — joining the ranks of Frankford, Nazareth and Parkview hospitals in recent years — Northeast Philadelphia moms have been left without a local facility to deliver.
While Northeast residents encompass one-third of the total population of Philadelphia, the first breaths of some 5,000 babies born annually to Northeast women will be taken somewhere else.
About a dozen people, concerned with bringing back birthing options for local women, met last week at the Northeast Regional Library.
Sue Rosenthal, chairwoman of the community board at the Northeast’s District 10 Health Center, led the group’s third meeting.
Also in attendance were doulas, nurses, midwives and representatives of the Maternity Care Coalition.
The committee is trying to identify possible options for care, such as a maternity center that would be staffed by midwives and obstetricians.
Those women who wish to have natural childbirth could do so, while still ensuring that those who come in begging for epidurals can get one.
In addition to a centrally located space, they want to ensure education, prenatal care, birthing support and residency opportunities for midwifery students.
While still gathering information on census numbers at suburban hospitals since the Northeast closures, the group spent much of the session going over a fact sheet that it will use during outreach to financial partners, legislators and hospitals.
The group also discussed developing a survey for community support, as well as working with a graduate student to prepare a more detailed survey and feasibility study.
Matt Taubenberger, Republican candidate in the state House 170th Legislative District, and a legislative aide to Rep. George Kenney, came late to the meeting but told the group that he’d look into the possibility that a survey be posted on state legislators’ Web sites to gauge constituent support. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com